Cleveland Cavaliers, After the Season

Welcome to Cleveland, home of wait till next year. Cleveland, where next year might be the last year for these Cleveland Cavaliers. It has been discussed to the point of nausea, LeBron James can become a free agent at the end of next season. If the Cavs are to make it harder for him to leave, they are going to have to get better. They are going to have to find another star. The must discussed Shaquille O'Neil trade is probably not the answer. He is another star, but the Cavs do not need another center years beyond his prime. What they need is a Scottie Pippen, a scorer who plays defense first. Few players meet that criteria, fewer yet become available. But it, or something similar is what they need to become a true championship contender. As has just been proven, James cannot do it alone.

Highlights for the week coming May 31, 2009 through June 6, 2009

Sunday May 31, 2009

Columbus Clippers host the Norfolk Tides
1:05 PM
Trevor Crowe is back in the bigs and Matt LaPorta returns to Columbus to continue his development. He showed some power in Cleveland but needs consistent playing time to turn into a needed slugger in the Tribe lineup.

Monday June 1, 2009

Columbus Clippers host the Norfolk Tides
6:35 PM

Wednesday June 3, 2009

CAPA presents Blackbird
11:00 am

The Worthington Inn Four Course Food and Wine Pairings
$70/person Space Limited

Thursday June 4, 2009

CAPA presents Blackbird
7:30 pm

Refectory 10 for $10 Wine Event
5:30 pm to 7:30 pm

Friday June 5, 2009

The Wexner Center presents Tulpan
7pm
Kazakhstan’s 2009 Academy Awards official submission uses the bleak landscape of the country’s wilds to find the humor in life.

The Columbus Museum of Art celebrates Kojo: Fifty Years in Photography
Running through October 4th, the Columbus area arts treasure’s life work will be displayed.

The Downtown Discovery District hosts the Columbus Arts Festival

CAPA presents Blackbird
8:00 pm

Saturday June 6, 2009

The Downtown Discovery District hosts the Columbus Arts Festival

CAPA presents Blackbird
8:00 pm

Cleveland Cavaliers

LeBron James played a game for the ages last night in extending the Cavs season another game. Though it was a win that was absolutely needed, it was not the sort of performance they needed. Once again the Cavaliers supporting cast did not do enough. Staring at 2008-2009 oblivion, their performance continued a trend for this series, the one that has them down one with two games to go.

There is no quibbling with the results, without the performance, the season is over. Certainly James has the talent to pull it out two more times and get the Cavs to the NBA Finals. But what are the chances? He has placed this team on his broad shoulders and willed two wins thus far. He has done it with nary the contributions from his teammates Cleveland had come to expect during the drive to the best record in the league.

At first glance, the game last night would seem to contradict that last sentence. Mo Williams and Delonte West came out with guns blazing. The first quarter saw the Cavs blow the game open with the starting backcourt aggressively dictating the flow of the game, pushing the lead to 22 at one point. Then they took their foot off of the accelerator and watched that lead shrink to an eventual deficit. It is inconsistent play at a time when consistency is the minimal requirement to advance in the playoffs.

Who is consistent is James. His greatness extended this series. But this formula has the Cavs down when they were favored to win. If the trend is followed, the chances of the Cavs defying the odds and winning the series are not great. It would not be a surprise if James is able to do it, but the odds are still stacked against it.

The Dog Joint

At The Dog Joint, the simple hot dog is being transformed into something more gourmet. Long imagined as the working man’s meal of choice, along with a beer, the perfect accompaniment to a ball game, the dogs at this Westerville shop are a long way from a meager street stand.
Perhaps in an age when heroes of the diamond are increasingly enhanced, these dogs are a natural evolution; an attempt to keep up. Unlike baseball, who views their enhancements as a mark upon the game, the fare at The Dog Joint is a welcome update on an American Classic.

The Aloha

Your choice of a honey wheat or egg bun with a hot dog smothered in bell peppers, crushed pineapple, bacon, brown sugar sauce, cinnamon, almonds….The salty and sweet blended nicely. Peppers and pineapples mimicked a relish while the almonds were a healthier take on a typical peanut accompaniment.

The Nacho Dog

Your choice of a honey wheat or egg bun with a hot dog stuffed with jalapenos then topped in more jalapeno peppers, scallions, diced tomatoes, nacho cheese, sour cream and tortilla chips…a spicy dream. The hot dog held up well under the strong flavors, the taste never getting lost under the neon orange cheese of game day nachos nor the snap muffled by the crunchy crushed tortilla chips.

The price is a little more than you’d expect to pay for a normal Hot Dog, though still well under the price of one at a game; along the lines of a value meal at fast food restaurant. The extensive menu and milkshake assortment beckon return trips to The Dog Joint

Cleveland Cavaliers

Mathematics cracked the mysteries of the universe. What once seemed impossible, Einstein illuminated. Down 3-1 to the Orland Magic seems an impossible deficit to overcome. The Cavs do have a basketball genius, but do they have the time to crack the Magic code?

The equation has yet to be discovered but we do know the components. LeBron James equals a 1 in any book. There are none better. Mo Williams is probably a 3 on most championship caliber teams. Delonte West, a 4 or a 5. Z? A 5. The crazy haired Brazilian not much better than a 5. Can those pieces add up to 3 straight victories? The sun was once believed to rotate around the earth, so wilder theories have been debunked. Of course, that took over a thousand years to disprove...

Columbus Clippers

The Columbus Clippers have nailed the compartmentalized imitation of their big league parent Major League baseball club to the North.

Beautiful retro-inspired baseball stadium?



Check

Miserable pitching staff?

Kirk Sarloos never hit 90 on the radar. The Charlotte Knights made his pitch look like it was sitting on a t-ball stand.

Check

Sketchy defense?

When the Knights were at bat, a swing and a miss was rate, the old ole defense was not. Two errors were generous, there were multiple missed plays that should have been made.

Check

All or nothing offense?

Andy Marte had a sterling batting average going into the game. A sign of hope for his career? Judging by yesterday, his bat is still to slow and his pitch recognition are still not major league ready.

Check

Maybe it was just a bad day. The Indians do have a lot of prospects in the minors and even without them, the stadium is stunning. On a perfect spring evening, there are few better places to spend your time so it is hard to complain. Of course a little reason to cheer wouldn't have been bad either.

Memorial Day Weekend 2009

The DJ states that Elvis was a patriotic man. As yet another of his songs emanates from the satellite radio station dedicated to the King, 50 year-old images return to your mind. Presley, his famous locks shorn, smiles for the camera in an Army uniform as you hear “One Night With You” recalling nostalgic memories that have become a piece of Americana. Suburban back-yard picnics marking a holiday have not changed much from those dreamlike images. Visiting the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio, tree lined streets shade houses adorned with the Stars and Stripes fluttering in the wind. The grill sizzles; children laugh and play as the radio changes to a station honoring the Boss. As Springsteen expounds upon the theme of our country’s optimism coupled now with poignant criticism, you look around to realize the American dream continues to live.

Cleveland Cavaliers, game 3

It is not over. When you have the best player in the game, it is not over. Granted, it does not look good. A two games to one deficit is not insurmountable by any means. Still after 3 games, the trend is clear. The Magic have a very good and deep team. None at the caliber of LeBron James, but several better than most of the rest of the Cavs. Going into this series, the Cavaliers supporting cast probably could have found a compelling argument to contest the Magic superiority, but not after the way they have played. If they cannot revert to their regular season form, this series is over. James is the best, even during an off-game, he still dominates. But without the help, he cannot do it alone.

Highlights for the Week Coming 5-24-09 through 5-30-09

Sunday May 24, 2009

Cleveland Cavaliers Game 3 vs the Orlando Magic
LeBron James essentially saved the Cavs season last night with 1 second to go. Now, can he get a little help as the team with the best home record in the NBA travels to Orlando for a major test on their drive to the NBA Finals?

Studio 35 hosts Formula One Racing: Monaco
8 am, $5 Admission

Monday May 25, 2009

Columbus Clippers host the Charlotte Knights
6:35 PM
The injuries to Cleveland Indians pitchers Anthony Reyes and Aaron Laffey will put a strain on the Clippers pitching staff. But this is what AAA baseball is all about, young players stepping in as replacements; the cycle of life.

Tuesday May 26, 2009

Cleveland Cavaliers vs Orlando Magic game 4

Columbus Clippers host the Charlotte Knights
6:35 PM

Wednesday May 27, 2009

Studio 35 hosts Champions League Soccer
2:45 PM, Free Admission
A showdown between FC Barcelona and Manchester United, the televised match between the best two club teams in the world featuring the best two footballers in the world, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Columbus Clippers host the Charlotte Knights
6:35 PM

Thursday May 28, 2009

Cleveland Cavaliers vs Orlando Magic game 5

The Wexner Center screens Death By Hanging and Japanese Summer: Double Suicide
Death By Hanging is considered by some as the most powerful film against capital punishment ever made. Japanese Summer: Double Suicide is a story set loose within what Director Nagisa Oshima calls a world of “television, toys, and demons.”

Columbus Clippers host the Charlotte Knights
11:35 AM

Friday May 29, 2009

Drexel Theater to begin screening Goodbye Solo
The story of Solo, a Senegalese taxi driver hired to drive a 70-year-old white North Carolinian to a mountaintop where the southerner intends to commit suicide.

Columbus Clippers host the Norfolk Tides
7:05 PM

Saturday May 30, 2009

Cleveland Cavaliers vs Orlando Magic Game 6 (if necessary)

Studio 35 hosts Idiocracy as part of their New Cult Classics Series
A celebration of movies not quite considered cult films but on their way to attaining the status.

Columbus Clippers host the Norfolk Tides
7:05 PM

Terminator Salvation

There is an unstoppable march for humanity. Every action is a precursor to a future that is not guaranteed, for someday in the future humanity will cease to exist. The possibilities towards that end are infinite; natural disasters, asteroid strikes, being engulfed by the sun, revelations from god or as The Terminator movie franchise imagines it, through humanity’s doing by way of the machine.

In this fourth establishment, Terminator Salvation, the central machine Skynet has exterminated most of humanity and is in the process of hunting down and terminating the remaining survivors. Included amongst the survivors is John Connor (Christian Bale), the destruction of whose existence being the subject of the three previous films. Though each previous installment seemingly stopped the onslaught, in reality, there is no stopping the march towards oblivion. Connor’s saga merely chronicles an attempt to delay the inevitable.

The task of slowing the machines this time takes place in the not-to-distant future though the germination of the drama begins in the not-to distant past. A scientific study originally conducted for the benefit of health eventually becomes twisted to aid Skynet towards the destruction of its human adversaries. The machines are evolving and learning new ways to hunt and infiltrate the human resistance camps. This latest discovery threatens the survival of Connor and foreshadows the decision made that became the original story of The Terminator.

This twist is an inspired take on the original plot. Unfortunately, it also gets explained by an all-to-familiar cop out in filmmaking; the victorious moment of catharsis when the villain explains how exactly they found the way to triumph which leads to their eventual downfall. It is the signal of mediocrity; a signal that director McG has not learned the intricacies of what it takes to be a great storyteller.

What Terminator Salvation does show, is that McG knows how to handle a film filled with big-budget special effects. Each installment of the franchise has been a breakthrough in imagination; bringing a post-apocalyptic world to life. This includes a thrilling moment of resurrection that highlights why special effects can add a great deal to a film when the ravages of time leave that possibility otherwise impossible.

The mark of time on a ravaged human population, however, is exposed in this film. The march towards extinction cannot be stopped; the bodies strewn across the film’s world are a reminder for each extinguished soul. Yet John Connor and the rest of us fight every day against the inevitable. Decisions may not stop what is to come though they do weigh significantly in the outcome. How it all ends is not yet decided so each choice made lends another day towards humanity’s survival…and another potential sequel.

Cleveland Cavaliers, After Game 2

In 1986 the Cleveland Browns played a brilliant, thrilling overtime game against the New York Jets. That win left them looking like a team of destiny. The next game, they took a late lead in the AFC Championship game. The ensuing kick-off to the Denver Broncos was misplayed, leaving the Broncos with an almost impossible 98 yards to overcome in order to send the game into overtime. Of course that game made John Elway a legend while at the same time crushing the heart Cleveland. The next year that heartache was repeated by Earnest Byner's fumble as he attempted to complete the Browns own answer to the Broncos "Drive". Once again, the hearts of Cleveland were ripped out.

In 1997, the Cleveland Indians took on the look of a team of destiny as well. With the defection of Albert Belle, they were not expected to be the power they and turned into over the previous several years. In the American League Divisional Playoff series they defeated the defending World Series Champion New York Yankess who were highly favored. They defeated the Baltimore Orioles in the next round and took a lead into the ninth inning of game 7 of the World Series against the Florida Marlins. Of course Jose Mesa, who had been unhittable the entire season blew the save sending the game into extra innings where the hearts of Cleveland sports fans was crushed again.

In 1989 the Cleveland Cavaliers had assembled what Magic Johnson had called the next great NBA team. In the playoffs of that year they ran into a team led by the emerging talents of Michael Jordan. In game 5 of what was a shorter series at the time, Cleveland took a late lead into the final moments of the game. Jordan's game winning shot has been replayed to the point of nausea, one of the signature moments in NBA history and another time the hearts of Cleveland were ripped from its collective chest.

In 2007 the Cavs rode the emerging talents of LeBron James to the NBA finals where they proved James' supporting cast was not ready to play on the leagues biggest stage. This year, they rode his nearly fully developed talents to the best record in the league, aided by what was considered to be a much better supporting cast. After two games of the Eastern Conference Finals, that supporting cast is beginning to shrink, doubts are rising about their readiness to perform what is needed to aid James on an ever-growing stage.

Thankfully for the Cavs, James is vastly superior to his greatness of two years ago. His shot last night has fans in Cleveland proclaiming the heartaches of their sporting past are being erased, Jordan's ghost exorcised. The problem is, Cleveland craves a championship, their first since 1964. James is ready to deliver, but he is going to need help to bring the dream to fruition. Unless the rest of the James Gang steps up to support, the shot from last night may end up being a blip on the radar. A Cleveland phenomenon that raises expectations to the point that the ensuing fall hurts that much worse. James just raised the spirits of Cleveland, it is now up to the rest of the Cavaliers to make sure the heart isn't ripped out in the end.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Fresh off the first loss of the playoff season for the Cavaliers, Clevelanders used to the sky falling in on their championship runs have a right to feel pessimistic. In fact there are some definite signs this could have been a harbinger of things to come.

a)The Cavaliers have yet to show they can stop a quality big man so far this season. Dwight Howard owned the area around the rim even though it is obvious he has a minimal offensive arsenal outside of his ferocious dunks. The Cleveland big men do not seem to have the athleticism or strength to slow him down.

b)This was the fourth game between the two teams this year and Orlando has won three. Over the last couple of years, they have taken 9 of 12 from Cleveland.

Of course these are the playoffs and they are a different animal than the regular season. The Cavs were not going to go undefeated in these playoffs so here are a couple of reasons why this is just one loss and hopefully not a trend.

a)The Cavs have played the minimum games required thus far in the playoffs and have not been tested. Most of the important minutes were done after three quarters. Against a better opponent in the Magic, it looked like the Cavs legs just gave out. With a game under their belt and back into the flow of things, the fade from last night should not happen again.

b)The chances of Mo Williams, Delonte West and the rest of the outside shooters staying cold throughout the series is pretty remote. One or more should emerge to provide a second offensive weapon.

c)They have LeBron James

DVD Revisited...3:10 to Yuma

He is an icon, the American cowboy. Ingrained into our national consciousness, the cowboy represents what we as a country believe us to be; self-sufficient, hard working and rebellious in nature. Where once he roamed all over the West and later Hollywood cinema, he has become an endangered icon. But he has not vanished, appearing every now and then on film to remind us why we hold him in such high regard, as Russell Crowe and Christian Bale did in 3:10 to Yuma, a remake of the 1957 film of the same name.

Bale plays Dan Evans, a down-on-his luck rancher earning a little extra money by escorting the captured desperado Ben Wade (Crowe) to a train that is to take him to prison. Both men contain the inherent macho bravado necessary to convey the demeanor necessary to survive a widely lawless era. Dan and Ben are two men seemingly at polar opposites of a morality spectrum. Bale and Crowe bring them to life over the odyssey to the train, revealing the shades of grey linking the plight of the two together.

To be sure, neither has any business with each other except for the task at hand. Dan is about to lose his ranch to a shady business man protected by the law. Ben operates outside the law; holding-up stage coaches because there is no other way to make an honest living in the barren landscape. Dan’s quest to do the right thing and prosper because of it grows harder by the minute as accomplice after accomplice drop by the wayside. The law does not see the benefit of reigning in the criminals and the money men look the other way; to another day and way of making a profit. Yet Dan holds on to his ideals, resigned in the knowledge that the right thing will not be done by the powers that be, it is now solely up to him. As Ben’s gang closes in to spring their leader, Dan begins to realize his options of survival grow dimmer by the minute.

Those minutes tick slowly throughout the film. Pocket watches and clocks are ever present mocking Dan of the time he has left and reminding us that though the images change, time has frozen. Crowe and Bale brought the 2007 3:10 to Yuma to life just as our economy was about to collapse. Honest, hard-working Americans about to lose their jobs through shady deals with banks while the corruption on Wall Street was coming to light. All the forces we put our trust in had seemingly failed us. This is why we should not let the iconic cowboy die. We must learn again to be self-sufficient and rebel against the status quo; reminded again the right thing was not done by the powers that be.

Surly Girl

Dinner at Surly Girl last night and beginning to notice a disturbing trend. Though the bar is one of my favorites in Columbus (as are Betty's and Tip Top); the food is wildly inconsistent. Case in point, I've had the Surly Girl meatloaf previously and found it to be wonderfully flavorful...slightly spicy with enough salt to bring out all the flavors of the meat. The texture a perfect density for a loaf of meat. Last night, I went with the sandwich version of the meatloaf and was not impressed. I'll give a pass on the flavor, perhaps the bread and toppings were a distraction from the taste but perfectly acceptable. But the texture...I'd say a step or two above fried mush. One of the tenants of greatness...you've got to be consistent in all you do. I can't say it was an off night either, Elise mentioned it was one of her main complaints of Surly Girl, she never knows if she'll get an enjoyable meal or not. Thankfully, the beer list ensures I'll always have an enjoyable beverage and the company we were with ensured we had a great time.

Synecdoche, New York

Somehow last fall one of the best films of the year was reduced to a blip on cinema’s landscape; going unnoticed by most of the movie going public. For me, it seems as if I heard about it one day, missed out on it the next. Thankfully, I remembered to rent it, watch it and watch it again. My great regret is that it went so unnoticed, Synecdoche, New York may never get the due it deserves. It is not the most accessible film. But if you are willing to spend the time with it, contemplate it and evaluate it, the film will creep into your soul and provide an experience generally lacking in American cinema. Synecdoche, New York becomes something you live; not just a two hour piece of entertainment meant as a mere distraction from your daily life.

Standing apart from your typical cinematic experience is something that should be expected from the film. Synecdoche, New York is a continuation on the themes writer Charlie Kaufman explored in some of his previous films, Being John Malkovich, Adaptation, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. There is a longing for connection with other people, a meditation on unrequited love and a desire to leave an indelible mark on the human race. Like the other films there is a melancholy quirkiness in Synecdoche, New York, a piece of art that seems more personal than before, perhaps because Kaufman also directs this film, his debut in the capacity. This film is the next step in turning Kaufman into a true auteur; getting better with each subsequent project. His stories, though uncompromising, are becoming more relatable to any viewer; his casting decisions ever more inspired.

Cast as the lead character, Caden Cotard, Philip Seymour Hoffman seemingly is the ultimate actor able to express Kaufman’s uniquely skewed vision of life. We have come to expect to see Hoffman morph into a tragically morose individual, beaten down by life and yet still hopeful, still able to find the comedic moment in life’s little foibles. In Synecdoche, New York he brings this persona to near perfection as the theater director haunted by his failings in life; driven to understand them through an ambitious theatrical production that never comes to full fruition.

Thankfully Kaufman was able to complete his vision. In a post-mortem review of the 2008 year in movies; Synecdoche, New York deserves a place on the best of list from last year. The film, the director and lead actor all deserved an Academy Award nomination. Perhaps it missed because it is so different from just about everything else. Most films elicit a response by showing you the joys and trials of life; Synecdoche, New York requires you live through the film and feel the joys and trials of your own life through the character of Caden Cotard, the mind of Charlie Kaufman.

Angels and Demons

Angels and Demons, the new movie by Ron Howard, based on the book by Dan Brown is a story that requires faith. Not faith in the guidance of the Catholic Church or faith in the legend of the Illuminati but faith that the fictional events depicted and the explanation of those events can be even remotely plausible. The background to those events, require little faith; their truths have been widely documented.
Not open for debate, the Catholic Church has been a guiding force of morality for two thousand years. That guidance, usually done with the goal of compassion towards humanity has often been twisted into unspeakable acts of terror and cruelty in the name of a good and just God. Some of those acts included the hunting down and imprisonment of scientists like Galileo, one of the supposed members of a secret society of a legendary group called the Illuminati. Galileo’s work, like that of a number of scientists and artists, was rounded up, banned from public consumption and often times destroyed by the Catholic Church, all of this part of the historical record.
Not part of the historical record is the imaginative story of Angels and Demons that integrates this ancient struggle into the modern world. Belief in this story just takes faith that the step by step account of this modern conspiracy could have ever been possible. This issue begins to nag as the movie wraps and the credits role and does not alleviate upon contemplation. It threatens to ruin what is otherwise an enjoyable piece of summer entertainment.
The highlight of Angels and Demons is found in the back story. Our modern world is a reflection on all that has come before. The story provides an essence of truth for all to take home and provides a guide to knowledge for those who wish to seek more than what the film provides. Science and religion each seek to explain the world around us that most of us will never understand. Angels and Demons provides a map for anyone wishing to seek their own truth, the distraction of fiction just needs to be ignored.

Sunday 5-17-09

The Columbus Crew at the Los Angeles Galaxy will be shown free at 3 pm at Studio 35 Cinema and Draft House. The defending MLS champions go for their 2nd win of the season (and 2nd in a row) as they try and get their season back on track.

Rock On the Rage at Crew Stadium

Tuesday 5-19-09

Four Courses and Four Wines at Trattoria-Roma $50 Per Person

Wednesday 5-20-09

The Cleveland Cavaliers return to action after another long layoff. The winner of the Boston/Orlando series may be feeling warn down after a tough 7 game series but the Cavs should take heed, the last team to sweep through their way through the first two rounds of the playoffs (the 2005 Miami Heat) lost in the conference championship (to the defending champion Detroit Pistons). For the two potential opponents for the Cavs this year, Boston is the depleted defending champion still dangerous with the emergence of Rajon Rondo and Glen Davis; Orlando has been a problem for Cleveland all year, Dwight Howard presents a challenge the Cavalier big men have yet to solve.

The Wexner Center will screen Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence; perhaps Nagisa Oshima’s most well known film by American audiences mainly because it stars rock legend David Bowie as a World War II prisoner of war in what has been described as a “thinking man’s Bridge on the River Kwai”.

A Taste of South American Wine Dinner at Luce Enoteca. 5 courses featuring wines from Cutting Edge Selections. $48 per person. Limited availability. Reservations only.

Thursday 5-21-09

The fourth installment of the Terminator series hits theaters, Terminator: Salvation. Set after the war between humanity and the machines has begun, this story follows John Connor (Christian Bale) leading humanity in the struggle for survival. Ever wonder why the machines don’t just envelope the world in a nuclear winter, leaving it uninhabitable for organic life?

30 for $30 Wine Tasting at Burgundy Room featuring rose wines and other fragrant, floral reds and whites accompanied by light hors d’oeuvres.

Caribbean Wine Dinner at the Bexley Monk Restaurant & Bar
$55/Guest $100/Couple Reservations Required

Friday 5-22-09

Game Two of the Eastern Conference championships for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Saturday 5-23-09

10 for $10 Afternoon Wine Event at Refectory Restaurant & Bistro

King Khan

They take the stage as a celebration of Rock and Roll’s past. P Funk being encouraged by a cheerleader smelling of teen spirit. An all too rare rocking horn section trumpeting the return of soul blasted from your parent’s garage. James Brown resurrected only to morph into a Blues Brother. This is a stage act that is a sight to see. Could it be packaged into album form? I have my doubts and don’t believe I will investigate. I think I would rather listen to an original than these modern-day recreations. But of an evening of live music that brings everything to life, King Khan can do no wrong.

Star Trek

After 10 movies, 5 television series, and countless conventions; it is probably safe to say J.J. Abrams is not exactly boldly going where no man has gone before in directing the 11th movie installment of Star Trek. Still it had to take a lot of courage to forge ahead into the universe created by Gene Roddenberry. There are the expectations of the legions of Trekkies that must be met; just as those same expectations that have become corny opinions of the franchise must be overcome to appeal to a wider audience of movie goers. Despite the daunting task of having to win the approval of these very different audiences; Abrams has crafted a film that both honors and defies these two contradictory expectations.
A novice to the world of Star Trek could walk into a theatre and be introduced and understand the characters of James T. Kirk, Mr. Spock, Dr. McCoy, Scotty and the rest of the characters without having to have had any previous knowledge of their histories. Chris Pine (Kirk) Zachary Quinto (Spock), Karl Urban (McCoy) and Simon Pegg (Scotty) bring enough of their own thought and personalities to the characters that they are able to stand apart from the heavy burden created by the past actors that initially created the characters. At the same time, the characters still exhibit the nuances and charms made famous by William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, and James Doohan. There is little of the stereotyped 60s cheese in the performances; though with each uttered catch-phrase the audience in the theatre responded with enthusiastic applause and laughter of appreciation. The only descent into any sort of contrived dialogue came with the Nimoy guest appearance. Conceived as an obvious bridge between two fan bases; the insertion served as the only negative aspect of the film.
Otherwise, the balance between the perceptions is achieved because Abrams held true to the original spirit of Star Trek while avoiding most of the negative perceptions. The issues currently presenting themselves on earth are projected into outer space for resolution just as they originally were back in the 1960s. On the movie screen they are presented with spectacular special effects and sets. If this formula had been maintained through all previous incarnations it would be hard to envision so many hokey perceptions being able to weigh down the franchise.
As it is, there is still a sense of embarrassment to admit this Star Trek is very good and enjoyable. Fortunately, a fan unaware or proud of the long history of Star Trek can walk away proud of this Abrams achievement and excited for the prospect of future films unencumbered by the past. Perhaps if this formula continues to hold, the adventures of the starship Enterprise will continue to boldly go where no Star Trek film has gone before.

Highlights where you may or may not be able to find me for the coming week 5-4-09 through 5-10-09

Monday
A birthday celebration is the reason for a visit to Surly Girl Saloon. Not that a reason is needed to visit the bar with one of the best beer selections in Columbus. Seems not a visit goes by that a Brasserie de Rocs de Cru is not ordered. The food menu is a work in progress with the misses unfortunately outnumbering the hits though you can’t go wrong with the Surly Girl Pizza that is able to shine despite the uninspired crust that plagues the rest of their pies.

Tuesday
The Cleveland Cavaliers finally return to action after over a week waiting for the winner of the Atlanta Hawks/Miami Heat playoff series. Cleveland took the season series three games to one from Atlanta so it may be just a matter of how quickly the Cavs can knock off the rust before they take control of the series and dispatch the Hawks.

Thursday
The Wexner Center is in the midst of their presentation of the first North American retrospective of Nagisa Oshima’s work. Considered one of the greatest Japanese filmmakers, Oshima’s scandalous In the Realm of the Senses will be screened with Pleasures of the Flesh Thursday evening at 7.

Friday
It has been a very long time since the Star Trek franchise was not looked upon as a joke to anyone not considered a Trekkie. Friday marks yet another attempt at reinvention; this time marks a return of the original characters, albeit younger versions and a brand new cast. If this reinvention does not work, this may be the final voyage of the USS Enterprise.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

It is the dawn of the summer movie season; a time of ill-conceived sequels stretching the limits of an original idea or an original idea that never should have been conceived. The fourth installment of the X-Men franchise would seem to be ripe to fall into the hazards of the ill-conceived. X-Men Origins: Wolverine does have an intriguing premise; introduce the back story to one of the most popular mutants of the X-Men universe, Wolverine. The popularity of the first three film installments would seem to provide a built-in audience eager to learn how Logan came to be known as Wolverine. The pitfall into disappointment exists however, as evidenced by the journey George Lucas took Star Wars fans through the story of how Anakin Skywalker came to be known as Darth Vader. Fortunately for fans of the X-Men; Marvel Comics did not disappoint.
Wolverine succeeds because it does not try to be too much, it is a single story not stretched into three. Its lone attempt at political preaching is but a minor glitch in the overall story involving a vague governmental conspiracy. From that conspiracy is born Wolverine, a raging mutated man hell-bent on revenge for the peaceful life that has been stolen from him through the ultimate act of betrayal. The origin of Wolverine is a battle between the forces aligned against the man and the forces in battle within the man.
The special effects of the film make the battle between good the good guys and the bad guys a thrill to watch. Hugh Jackman makes Wolverine a film worth watching. He is able to be the hulking action hero while also giving weight to the forces battling within Wolverine. Who he is, who he wants to be and who he is in danger of becoming are just as important to the man as the events he is engaged in are important to the rest of the world.
In the end the film leaves the door open to a sequel. New characters are introduced to provide enough fodder for countless more films. Time will tell if they will follow the road of Wolverine or push the limits of the franchise into the realm of the ill-conceived. Marvel seems to have a road map, but the history of summers past shows the season can become a wasteland of once beloved films.